meet our panelists
BRANDI GARCIA / DJ & radio personality, KBXX-Houston – DJ Panel (Houston, TX)
The bit of sunshine Brandi Garcia took from her native
state of Florida has paved a bright future. Garcia worked
the radio ladder to become the proud owner of Houston’s
#1 night show on 97.9 The Box, host of the music video
show “Hot TV,” creator of the sultry Southern Stilletto mix
CD series, and becoming 2006 Southern Entertainment Award’s Female DJ of
the Year. A proud member of the Murder Mamis & NoizeMob, Garcia is en
fuego!
BRYAN LEACH / TVT Records – Indie Exec Panel (New
York, NY)
Bryan was largely responsible for propelling acts like Lil
Jon & the Eastside Boyz, the Ying Yang Twins, and Pitbull
to national success during his time as VP of A&R at TVT
Records. Now on the verge of launching his own label,
Bryan’s thorough knowledge of the music business and
hands-on approach to artist development will guarantee him success.
CARL CHERY / SOHH.com – Media Panel (New York, NY)
CAVARIO HODGES / Don Diva Magazine – Media Panel (Atlanta, GA)
CHAKA ZULU / Co-CEO, Disturbing Tha Peace & Ebony
Son – Indie Exec Panel (Atlanta, GA)
Chaka Zulu has been making his mark in the music
industry for the past 10 years. Much like his namesake,
Zulu relies on education and tenacity for success while
giving back to his people. Chaka Zulu has worn many hats
including Music Director for Atlanta’s Hot 97.5, radio promotions for Sony & Universal, and currently serves as Co-CEO and manager
for entertainment icon Ludacris and the Disturbing Tha Peace brand.
CLINTON SPARKS / DJ, Producer, Entrepreneur – DJ
Panel (Hartford, CT)
Music is universal as Clinton Sparks proves through the
syndication of his “SmashTime Radio” heard in the USA,
Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada and on Sirius
Satellite’s Shade 45. Sparks takes full advantage of his
entrepreneurial skills with two merchandising websites
MixUnit.com & FlixUnit.com. While cats from Kanye West, 50 Cent, Eminem, & Pharrell have all blessed his famous mixtapes, the world is just now
“getting familiar” with Sparks the producer. And as Sparks continues to push it
to the limit with a new album plus deals involving video games and Pepsi, the
world is about to become very familiar with Clinton Sparks.
COOL & DRE – Producer Panel (Miami, FL)
Production credits include Ja Rule f/ Jadakiss & Fat Joe
“New York New York,” The Game f/ 50 Cent “Hate It Or
Love It,” Christina Milian f/ Young Jeezy “Say I,” Juvenile
“Rodeo,” and DJ Khaled f/ Paul Wall, Rick Ross, Pitbull, &
Fat Joe “Holla At Me.”
COREY LLEWELLYN / Digiwaxx.com – Technology Panel (New York, NY)
CRISTAL BUBBLIN / Vice President, Bum Squad DJz – DJ Crew Panel
DART PARKER / Dir. A&R, Shady Records – A&R Panel
(New York, NY)
Most folks in the industry base signing new talent from
charts and bandwagons, but true A&R’s such as Dart
Parker rely on their ear and the conviction to stand behind
the music they sign. Parker has trusted his instincts ever
since leaving Raleigh, NC via Amtrak armed with $800
and a dream. Parker has continued living his dream beginning as a producer
for DMX and De La Soul then eventually moving up to becoming Director of
A&R for Shady Records, signing Stat Quo and Ca$his to the house Em built.
DJ CHUCK T / DJ & CEO, Port City Productions – DJ
Panel (Charleston, SC)
Frustrated with the lack of opportunities available to
independent artists, Chuck T dropped his mic and picked
up the turntable. He decided to fight the game from within
the system and has opened doors for many artists in and

around his hometown of Charleston, SC though his mixtape series, Ghetto
Gangsters including dropping 45 titles in one year! DJ Chuck T has already
had coverage in The Source, Ozone Magazine, Scratch Magazine, and MTV’s
Mixtape Mondays to name a few. His hard work is paying off as DJ Chuck T
was nominated for 14 Southern Entertainment Awards in his first year of eligibility and looks forward to watching his label Port City Productions become
a super power in the music industry.
DJ JELLY - DJ Panel (Atlanta, GA)
DJ MARS / Founder, World Famous Superfriends – DJ
Crew (Atlanta, GA)
As the President and founding member of the World
Famous Superfriends Crew, DJ Mars single handedly
changed the DJ scene in Atlanta. While attending Clark
Atlanta University, DJ Mars started his career DJing in the
cafeteria during dinner for only $75. Mars went from being
Outkast’s original DJ to touring with Usher. Currently Mars is living the life of
legends and happily on tour with Ciara.
DJ NASTY / DJ & Producer, Nasty Beatmakers – DJ Panel
(Orlando, FL)
Now that his partner DJ Prostyle has departed for NYC
and BET, Nasty virtually holds a DJ monopoly on the city
of Orlando, dominating radio and clubs. Widely considered one of the best on the one’s & two’s, Nasty and his
brother LVM have also used their industry connections to
venture into production. Their tracks have appeared on albums by everyone
from Camron to Ludacris.
DJ TOOMP – Producer Panel (Atlanta, GA)
Production credits include T.I.’s “Dope Boyz,” “U Don’t
Know Me,” “Motivation,” “What U Know,” “Be Easy,” and
Ludacris’ “Two Miles An Hour.”
DJ WALLY SPARKS / DJ, syndicated – DJ Panel (Chattanooga, TN)
Once upon a time Wally Sparks was OZONE Magazine’s
music editor, but he left us to pursue his true love 24/7:
DJing and breaking new music. He can currently be heard
on 3 commercial radio stations in 3 different states in
addition to his own weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio
entitled “League Crew Radio.” Wally Sparks currently has
globally distributed mixtapes featuring big names such as
Ludacris, Chamillionaire, Yung Joc, Trae, and 8Ball & MJG.
DONYA FLOYD / Programmer, AOL Radio Network
– Technology Panel (New York, NY)
Donya Floyd programs nearly 40 urban music stations for
the AOL Radio Network, including R&B, dancehall and
gospel – acting as a liaison between AOL Music and labels
and artists. In addition to her radio responsibilities, she is a
contributor to AOL Music’s news and feature articles, AIM
interviews and Sessions. Ms. Floyd’s background includes programming and
on-air stints at WOWI-FM in Norfolk, WPGC 95.5 FM in Washington, DC,
and WUSL Power 99 FM in Philadelphia. Most recently, she also appeared
as a weekly entertainment news contributor on Philadelphia’s top-rated TV
station, NBC-10.
ELORA MASON / Founder, E. Mason & Associates
– Women In the Industry Panel (Atlanta, GA)
Elora Mason is the founder and CEO of E. Mason & Associates, a Miami based Events Management and Publicity
Firm. She is also the co-founder of Young Florida Vote, a
non-profit, non-partisan voter empower program and the
Florida Entertainment Summit, Florida’s most important
entertainment networking summit. Elora, born in St. Croix, has worked with
Atlantic Records, Bigga Rankin, Benji Brown, Caribbean Reggae Fest, DJ
DEMP, DEMP Week, So South, Tarvoria, The Core DJs,
The Core DJs Retreat, Trick Daddy, Trick Luvs Da Kids
Foundation and a host of others.